BENEFITS OF OMEGA 3 ACIDS:

Omega-3 fatty acids are a subcategory of unsaturated fatty acids. Chemically, fatty acids are long chains of carbon and hydrogen with two oxygen atoms on one end of the chain. They may either be saturated, in which case all carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds, or unsaturated, in which case one or more carbon-carbon bonds are double bonds. Unsaturated fatty acids have lower melting points and are typically much heart-healthier than saturated fatty acids. There are several benefits to Omega-3 fatty acids.

Healthy Fat

The human body requires a certain amount–about 30 percent of total calories consumed–of fat in order to function properly. Fat is a macronutrient that not only provides the cells with energy, but also assists in immune system function, integrity of cell membranes, and serves many other physiological functions. Unfortunately, explain Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book “Biochemistry,” saturated fats, while they fulfill the body’s fat requirement, also negatively impact heart health and can lead to arterial disease. Unsaturated fats fulfill the body’s fat requirement without contributing to heart disease. As unsaturated fat, Omega-3 fatty acids help meet nutritional needs without negatively impacting the heart.

Brain Development

Mounting evidence suggests that Omega-3 fatty acids may play an important role in brain development and maintenance. Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz, in their book “You: Having A Baby,” note that evolutionarily, the human brain appears to have developed significantly in tandem with humans moving away from tree dwellings and toward riverside and seashore dwellings. Because seafood is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acid, evolutionary biologists have suggested that access to Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet helps promote brain development, explain Drs. Roizen and Oz. They suggest that both during the prenatal period and throughout life, Omega-3’s help ensure brain health.

Antiinflammatory

While some fatty acids appear to have proinflammatory effects, increasing biosynthesis of inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins, Omega 3 fatty acids seem to lower prostaglandin levels. This, reports Science Daily, is one of the reasons that Omega-3 fatty acids are considered so beneficial to health. In fact, cultures in which the diet reflects an optimum balance of oils, such that Omega-3 fatty acids represent a significant portion of fat intake, have lower incidences of heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory processes. Science Daily also reports that Omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent blood clots and cardiac arrhythmias.